✯ North Star ✯

Part 12

We've been flying for the whole night and we're about to finally land.
Pope waves his hand in front of my dad's face.
"He's out." He tells us
"All right. So Tres Rocas that's where Neville said we would find the guy. Solana that's the archaeological site. I think that's where they're taking my dad. Neville gave me this map. He said it should be... here." John b says giving me the map
"I still cannot believe this is the map we're following." I tell them
"He's the only guy who's been there" John B tells me
"Still pretty janky John B" i say
"Oh boy" Pope groans
"I've been in river towns like this. Major danger you know?" Cleo tells us
"Don't worry. We're gonna get there find Singh boost your pops. And then we'll find El Dorado. It's a layup." Pope tells us and just then my dad snores really loud.
"You sure he doesn't know anything?" John B ask me as I look at my dad
"I haven't told him anything" I tell him
"I haven't either" Sarah tells him
"Okay first thing we gotta find this guy named Jose and then head upriver" John B says

The plane finally lands and we all get off. It's super hot and humid here. Unfortunately for us I know this search is going to take a long time.
"I told you it's the Wild West out here" Cleo says as we get off the plane
"Stella! Sarah!" Dad yells from the steps of the plane
"Dad what are you doing?" I ask him
"I'm coming" Dad tells us
"What no way" Sarah says
"No you're not. You got us here like you said you would. Now go on to Guadeloupe." I tell him
"You're in over your head" Dad says
"You need a doctor" I tell him
"Let me help please" Dad begs me
"No! Get back in the plane. You promised you weren't a part of this. No." I tell him
"Okay" Dad nods
"Let's get the hell out of here." I say turning to John b

"There's a lot going on" Pope says
"Looks like it's a local holiday" Cleo tells us
"So we got to assume that Singh's already gone upriver. We're looking for a guy named Jose. He's gonna take us to the dig site." John b tells us
"Jose. Do you have a last name or..." pope asks trailing off
"I do not have a last name" John B says
"Shit. It's gonna be like trying to find a teardrop in the ocean" Cleo tells us
"I'm assuming river guides probably hang out by the river" I suggest
"But if they're like the guides at OBX they're probably getting drunk on holiday" Pope says
"So let's start with the bars" Sarah says.
"Okay" Pope nods.
"Divide and conquer?" I ask them
"Let's do it" Pope says
John B and I go one way as Pope Cleo, and Sarah go another.

We ask a lot of people if they know any river guide named Jose. Supposedly he man exist or is just hiding because no one knows who he is.
"Uh I got a bunch of no's" John B groans
"There's not a single Jose who's a panga driver in there. This is gonna be a lot harder than I thought." He tells me
"Yeah I know" I nod
"You rat bastard! Bastards you son of a bitch I'll chew your arms off you jack-off feeder fish." We hear someone yell
"Okay there's only one person on this planet who would say something like that" John B says
"Hey get off of me! Get off of me you-" he yells
"Big John." I nod
"Yeah. That's my dad" John B nods

I look up to see a man closing a window where we hear people yelling
"That's one of Singh's men." I tell john b
"That means they didn't take him upriver. We can still save him." John b tells me
"So how do we get him out?" I ask him

John B and I find some of the fireworks and send them through the windows. I send more fireworks towards one of Singh's men who comes out the front door. John B found a ladder and leans it against the building as he starts to climb up
"I got you" I say holding the bottom
Then a gunshot goes off and John B quickly jumps down and we rush under the front porch.
"You okay?" John B asks me
"Are you okay?" I ask him
"Yeah I'm good. That was my dad" John B says and just then we hear glass shatter and a guy fall from the second floor. Then we hear footsteps above us
"Star" John B mumbles putting his arm in front of me
I guy jumps down and we immediately realize it's big John
"Oh my God. Dad!" John B yells
"Good to see you kid" Big John smiles
"Hi." I say
"Hi Stella" Big John says
"Ryan!" We hear someone yell from above us
"We gotta go. Come on. Dad." John b says
"Come on. Let's go" I say as we take off running through the village.

We slow down once we get far enough from the house.
"I can't believe you just fell out of a window Dad" John B tells him
"If I never see Singh again it'll be too soon. Let's collect our bearings. Get the lay of the land." Big John tells us
"Listen. Think we'll have enough time to make it to Solana for the solstice?" John b asks him
"Yeah but I wouldn't get too cocky. I still can't make out those glyphs." Big John says
"I might have something that might help us. List , this is from Pope okay?" John B says pulling a out paper with the glyph translations on it
"All right? This is a family heirloom." John b tells him
"Pope?" Big John asks
"Yes it is" John B says
"Is he here too?" Big John asks us
"Yes Pope is here" John B answers him
"Who the hell else is here?" Big John asks him
"It doesn't matter okay? Listen to me. It's like this thing um.. Like what?" John b asks me
"The Rosetta stone" I suggest
"Rosetta stone. Like a translation" John B yells him
"Yeah I know what the Rosetta stone is" Big John tells him
"Okay I'm just saying" John B says
"That's right. That's right. No that's right. He's a Tanny. And Denmark's the link to the San Jose the whole... the whole deal. Oh my God. Okay if this is legit... we just might crack this thing. The gods are smiling on us." Big John tells us
"I'm glad the gods are smiling. We gotta go. Okay?" John b tells him
Big John puts the papers in his pocket.
"I'll keep it safe. We gotta move kids. We gotta get upriver. The moon waits for no man." Big John tells us

"Okay we've got to find this river guide named Jose. Divide and conquer?" John b says
My search goes the same as it did the first time. But somehow John B had better luck.
"Come here. Okay he's got our guy" John B tells us as we walk towards a small boat
"Jose?" John b asks
"Sí?" He says
"Uh me llamo John B. You know Neville?
Professor Sowell?" John B asks him
"Sí. You are friends? The professor." He asks
"Yes." John b tells him
"Okay I waiting for you" Jose says
"Oh my God. Nice to meet you. You're gonna take us upstream where you took them?" John b asks him and Jose nods
"Perfect" John B smiles
"And he already paid so we can go." Jose says pulling out money from his pocket.
"He as in..." John B says trailing off
"Your friend. He's waiting. Come on follow me. Over here." Joes tells us.
I look over to see my dad is standing on the dock waving at us. Of course he didn't listen to me.
"Hi honey" Dad smiles
"I told you! Do you even ever listen?" I ask him walking up
"I'm here to do what I can" Dad says
"You're not protecting me. I'm fine" I tell him.
"Wait John. Listen to me. Listen to me!" Dad begs as big John walks over to him and grabs him
"You tried to kill me you son of a bitch." Big John says
"You have every right to be upset" Dad says.
"I'm not upset. Who said I was upset?" Big John says
"John b I don't know what to do. What do we do?" I ask him
"Singh. Hey. Singh is here" John B tells me
"He's here. Yeah. We gotta go." He tells me
"Oh! Oh! Time to go. Time to go" I say running back towards our dads.
"You threw me overboard!" Big John tells holding his shirt
"Hey! Shut up. Singh is in the market right now. Get in the damn boat. Go. Go. Get on the boat." John b tells him
"Wa , what about Sarah, Pope and Cleo?" I ask John b as we get in the boat
"They'll figure it out. We gotta go." John b tells me
My dad starts steps into the boat
"What are you-" I start to ask
"I'm going" Dad tells me
"No!" I yell
"Singh's dangerous. You're over your head." Dad tells me
"Damn it!" I groan
"Get in the boat John B." Big john says as John B hopes into the boat
"I guess it's just us" I sigh

We go down the river getting deeper and deeper into the jungle.
"Well welcome to El Tesoro Bird. We'll hole up here for the night. Move out at first light." Big John tells us as we pull into a small town

I sit under a little wood structure with my dad
"Of course I know what it looks like sweetheart okay? But I'm not here for treasure. Not theirs not anyone's. What do I need gold for? You're my gold." Dad tells me
"And was I your gold when you were strangling me?" I ask him
"I'll regret that for the rest of my life. Every minute of every day. Some good did come of it though. I've changed Stella." He tells me but I just get up and walk to go find John b
"I saw you talking to your dad" John B tells me
"He says he's just here to help. But... I don't trust him." I tell him
"Yeah um... Yeah my dad doesn't necessarily trust you either so..." John B tells me trailing off
"Yeah I gathered that much. I don't blame him. Not after what my dad did to him. And I know we've been through a lot but we're still good right?" I ask him
"Yeah. We're good." John b smiles